Laundry-marking pin



March 31, 1931. A. F. HANNEY LAUNDRY MARKING PIN Filed June 6. 1928 INVENTOR By W y/clfidz/ A [TOR VE Y5 Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANGUS F. HANNEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO LAUNDRY-MARKING PIN Application filed June 6,

This invention relates to identifying means and particularly to laundry tag devices adapted to be attached to the various articles and to follow them through the various steps in the laundry process.

It has been the practice in laundry work, and the like, to use tags carrying identifying indicia connected by a ring to securing means, such as a safety pin, adapted to be attached to the article. Considerable trouble has arisen in the use of devices of this sort on account of the ring, separating at the split and allowing the tag to become disengaged and lost thereby resulting in a failure of identification.

Users of these devices have gone to considerable expense and trouble in remedying this difiiculty by soldering, welding or otherwise fastening the ends split, but these remedies fail quite often because of the wear and tear upon the ring. It has been found that the split of the ring very seldom separates sufficiently to release the pin or securing device but very frequently separates a sulficient distance to permit the release of the tag.

With the foregoing in mind, this invention has been developed and it contemplates providing a ring with means for positively and thereby preventing it from reaching the split even if it should open up. In addition to preventing the movement of the tag to the split the confining means also prevents the tag and securing device from assuming opposed diametric relation with respect to the ring when the plane of the split is normal to the line of the pull between the tag and the securing means thereby reducing the opportunity for spreading of the ring at the split.

Other features of the invention will be brought out in the following description, drawings and claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the complete device; Fig. 2 shows an edge view of the tag, view of the pin or securing means; Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the ring opening in the tag and through the ring at the enlarge of the ring at the confining the tag upon it away from the split a side view of the ring and an edge 1928. Serial No. 283,223.

ments; showlng a modified form of tag confinmg means; and Fig. 5 is still another modified form.

In the drawings, 1 represents a suitable tag provided with a suitable identifying key opening 2 for engagement with a suitable rack, not shown, and 3 represents a suitable indication such as a number for identifying the tag. The tag is also provided with a suitable opening 4 for the reception of a ring 5 adapted to attach the tag to the spring coil 6 or other securing means generally indicated as at 7. The ring 5 is split at 8 for assembly purposes. Inassembling, 5 the articles, such as the tag and pin, are placed upon the ring with'it expanded or open at the split. Thereafter the ring is collapsed until its ends abut whenthe assembly is completed.

In order to obtain a proper understanding of some of the difficulties accompanying the use of theserings in devices of this sort and in order to bring out to the fullest extent the advantages of this invention, a set up of:

the conditions would not be amiss.

When the ring is collapsed to hold th parts in assembly, the material of the ring is sprung until the ends abut at the ends of the split. Obviously, the ends cannot be brought into true abutting relation but have a tendency, when released, to spring apart to a slight degree at least and when the tag is pulled in one direction and the pin in the oppositedirection with the split in a plane normal to the direction of the pull, then the tendency to open the ring is greatest. It has been found in practice that this actually happens by reason of the tag being confined or bound in one part'of the load and the pin being fastened to another part.

l/Vith the foregoing in mind, the ring 5 is provided with a pair of spaced lu s 9 one on either side of the tag and preferafily located in spaced relation less than 180 and each symmetrically disposed on either side of a plane passing diametrically 0f the ring through the split thereof. In other words, referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the Split is at the bottom and that the two lugs 9 109 passage to other parts of the ring where the split occurs.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that opposite pull between the tag and pin is confined to such positions of the ring that it is impossible for such a pull to take place in a direction diametrically across the ring in a line normal to the, split. In other words, re-

ferring to Fig. 2, the tag and pin can never oppositely pull in alignment with the horizontal diameter of the ring as shown in this figure, because the tag and the pin can never assume that relationship due to the confining operation of the lugs 9. r

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the ring 10 is provided with lugs 11 struck inward at the split or junction of the ring parts. In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the ring 12 is provided with lug portions 13 struck inward and outward from the ring in the split.

It will be seen from the fOregoing description that the tag is confined upon the ringand cannot escape therefrom and that the tag and pin, in one form at least, are prevented from assuming such a position when pulled in opposite directions that they can exert the maximum ring opening tendency.

What I claim is:

1.. In an identifier of the class described comprisin a tag having a ring opening, a uniting split ring engaging in said opening, means carried by said ring and larger than the opening in the tag for preventing the movement of the tag to the split in the ring, and securing means also carried by said ring for securing the identifier to an article.

2. A devicev of: the class described as in claim 1 wherein the means for preventing the movement of the tag to thesplit in the ring comprises separated projections carried by the ring on either side of the tag with the split in the ring in that, portion thereof not occupied by the tag.

3. An identifier ofthe class described comprising a tag having a ring opening, a uniting split ring engaging said opening, lugs carried by said ring on either side of said tag and spaced 120 apart and each spaced 120 from the split in the ring whereby the tag is prevented by said lugs from reaching the split inthe ring and securing means also carried by said ring for securing the identifier to the article.

4:. An identifier of the class described comprising a tag having a ring opening, a unitsignature.

ANGUS F. HANNEY. 

